Web associating mechanism



July zo, 194s.

R. VJ. WILLIAMS WEB ASSOGIATING IIECHANISI Filed nay 5,'1944 4 SheQts-Sheet 1 .July 20, 1948 R. .1.y wlLLlAMs y 2,445,703

WEB ASSOCIATING `MEIGHANISM '4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 3. 1944 .QUE

in" b" n" R. J. WILLIAMS WEB ASSOGIATING MEGHANISH July 2o, 194s.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3. 1944 July zo, 194s.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 3, 1944 F IG.4.

Patented July 20, v1948 WEB ASSOCIATIN G MECHANISM Russell J. Williams, Richmond Heights, Mo., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri `Application May 3, 1944, Serial N0. 533,955

This invention relates to web associating mechanism particularly for use in apparatus for forming tubing from webs, and with regard to certain more specific features in such apparatus, to a new movable roll tower.

The invention is an improvement upon the apparatus shown in U. S. Patent 1,634,067, dated June 28, 1927,

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a new form of movable roll tower which when moved, as is necessary for certain adjustments with respect to a folder, will not adversely aiect certain desired phase relationships between multi-ply webs traversing the apparatus; and the provision of apparatus of the class described which is simple in construction and readily adaptable to standard associated apparatus. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the pertinent-parts of tuber apparatus in which the present invention is employed;

8 Claims. (Cl. 270-52) go directly to the folder.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic vertical section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2, showing a resulting multi-ply tube product.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In apparatus for forming multi-ply paper tubes, means is used to feed a plurality of webs of paper into contacting superposed stepped relation to one another. These travel against the under side of a combining roller, where means is located to apply adhesive to the stepped edges of the sheets. Folder means is provided beyond the roller for folding upward and inward and lapping the edges of the superposed sheets to form a multi-ply tube having a multi-ply pasted longitudinal seam. The combining roller delivers Patent 1,634,067 (above mentioned) shows such apparatus.

As shown in said patent, a plurality o1' webs of paper are drawn from a plurality of \paper supply rolls and after passing over individual guide rolls pass into what may be designated as a roll tower which carries guide rolls, an assembly roll and edge-adhesive-applying apparatus. This roll tower is adjustable back and forth in its entirety,

- so that the angle of the assembled webs may be Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the top of the tuber bed shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of parts shown at the left of Fig. l, showing certain details not shown in Fig. 1, and showing a differently adjusted position of certain guide rolls;

Fig. 4 `is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, except that the webs shown in Fig. 3 are removed, and showing a rear elevation of a roll mechanism, with parts broken away for more complete illustration;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged' vertical section taken on line 6-8 of Fig. 4, showing certain paste-applying equipment;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section talren on line 1-1 of Fig. 6, certain scraper elements being broken away for clarity;

changed with respect to the folder used. The necessity for this adjustment arises because of the different widths of web used and the fact that the folder, for perfect operation, requires different angles o1. approach ofthe assembled web.

No inter-ply pasting is indicated Ibetween webs.

The roll tower adjustment used in the Patent 1,634,067 was satisfactory as long as the longitudinal phasing between webs was not important, as was the case -without inter-ply pasting. Today such phasing is important because it is common practice, for example, to apply between webs certain inter-ply paste or adhesive patterns which should be predeterminately related to one another and with respect to ends of bag blanks subsequently cut from the tubing. This predetermined relationship should extend throughout all of the multi-ply layers of the tube, regardless of adjustment required between the roll tower and the folder.

An example of where predetermined inter-ply w 'paste-pattern relationships need to be mainsecond and third ply must be directly opposite one another and at equal distances from the bag end. If the moving webs to which these bands are applied do not run in proper predetermined phase relationship so as longitudinally to register the adhesive bands, the desired registration will be lost and the first and second ply may be joined at an adhesive area which is not next to, nor registered with the adhesive area between the second and third plies. The present invention assures such registry.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral I the end of an interply pasting section from which webs of paper 3, 5, 1, 9 and emerge. The details of the apparatus I for applying the desired inter-ply paste patterns are not shown since these are known and per se form no part of the present inven-A tion.

At numeral I3 is a supporting frame for a guide roll tower forming one new element of the present invention. This tower is in general indexed as I5.

At numeral I1 is shown the supporting frame for the tuber bed. This is indexed in general by numeral |9.

The roll tower section -|5 consists of two longitudinal beams 2| fastened to the top of the frame I3. These beams 2| are xed in position and support fixed posts 23. Between the posts 23 are mounted ve rotary guide rollers 25 over which pass the webs 3, 5, 1, 9 and respectively. From these rollers 25 said webs extend forward in parallelism as shown.

On the top of each beam 2| is a roller coaster unit 21 which consists of side bars 29, cross pins 3| and rollers 33 rotary on the pins. The coasters 21 constitute lanti-friction 'devices which roll along the flat top surfaces of the beams 2|. They support a movable roll assembly indexed in general -by the numeral 35. In particular, the movable roll assembly consists of a bed 31 having recesses 39 where thebed rests upon the coasters 21. Outside skirts 4I attached to the bed 31 maintain alignment of the coasters 21.

Inside of the beams 2|, the bed 31 has bolted thereto two toothed rack members 43. One of these is detailed in Fig. 5. These members are recessed at 38 and engage anges 40 on the insides v,of the beams 2|. This guides the bed 31 in its longitudinal movements. The teeth of the racks 43 are engaged by pinions 45 carried on a cross-shaft 41. Shaft 41 is supported in bearings 49 carried in the beams 2|.

On the outside of one of the bearings 49 (Fig. 5) the shaft 41 carries a worm wheel 5| meshing with a worm 53 carried on a longitudinal control shaft 55. Shaft 55 is supported in bearings 51 Iand is controlled from a handwheel 59. From the above it will be clear that by operating the handwheel 59, the bed 31 may by means of the mechanical train 55, 53, 5|, 41, 45 and 43 be moved back and forth.

Supported upon the bed 31 are lateral supports in which are angular guide sockets 6| for sliding bearings 63. These bearings carry rollers 65. Springs 61 normally bias the bearings 63 upward. Screws 69, which may be locked in ad-.

4 justed positions, form stops for adjusting the elevations of the rollers 95 untilv they are tangent at their tops with the tops of the rollers 25. This accounts for the stated parallelism of the webs 3', 5, 1, 9 and in their reaches between the posts 23 and the movable supports 90. It will be noted thatthe sockets 5| are arranged at angles and that the centers of the rollers are offset progressively from the vertical so that the webs issuing from the rollers 05 will not interfere. In

-this condition they proceed to. a combining roll 1| carried between the supports 60. On the surface of the combining rollvthe webs come into combining contact. It will be seen that the rolls 65 on the carriage are arranged, starting with the bottommost'roll, in receding echelon relationship with respect to the combining roll 1|.

Behind the combining roll 1| on the bed 31 is carried a paste container 13 above which is a. cross-shaft 15. Shaft 15 extends from a support at one end in one of the members 60 and to a separate support 11 (Fig. 4). The support 11 is also carried upon the bed 31.

Hooked over the rod 15 'are adjustable brackets 19, each of which carries a grooved paste or adhesive applying wheel 8| with a suitable scraper 82. The brackets 19 are held in predetermined lateral positions by collars 83 held in place by suitable set screws 95. Arms 81 reaching from the brackets 19 are biased counterclockwise by y to apply the paste to one set of the offset edges of the webs. The paste does not join the opposite edges of the webs until they have proceeded through the folder which will next be described. However, any paste patterns which have been applied to the webs ahead of the paster unit do so join them when the combining roll 1| is reached.

The folder is located 'at the entrance to the tuber unit |9 which is shown particularly in Fig. 2. The frame |1 of the tuber unit carries supports 9| with openings 93 for selectively locating a cross bar 95. From the cross bar extend arms 91 which carry adjustable supports 99 for a curved guide shoe |0| under which pass the offset webs. It will be understood that in Fig. 2 the separate webs may be treated as a composite one.

From shoe |0| the web passes over a plate |03 andthrough turning guides |03. The latter are slotted at |05 and adjustably held by cap screws |01. The turning guides |03 are notched as shown at to edge or fold the turned web as it is drawn beneath them.

From plate |09 the turned and edged web passes to a spaced Plate ||3 upon which are adjustable angle supports ||5 for pivoted rollers |I1 which iron a crease into the turned edges of the tube. These rollers are laterally .s adjustable through slots ||4 and cap screws IIB.

From plate ||3 the tube passes to a spaced plate ||9 carrying an adjustable support |2| for a pivoted roller |23 which irons the composite pasted seams so as to cause the opposite lapped edges of a given web to be joined, as indicated in Fig. 9. Support |2I is adjustable from slots |20 and cap screws |22.

Auxiliary spaced plates |25 upon which are adjustable guides |21 notched at |29 further guide passage of the tube. These plates |25, like plates |09, H3, H9, extend entirely across the space dened by the side frames |1. Guides |21 are adjusted from slots |26 and cap screws |29. As many of these auxiliary plates as necessary may be used.

The upper rails |33 of the frame |1 are provided with rows of openings |35 for accommodating the fastener plates which are supported upon ribs |3I. As to plates |25, the adjusting cap screws |23 are also used as fasteners. In the cases of plates |09, ||3 andi |9, auxiliary fasteners |32 are used. Thus the various folding, creasing, pressing and guiding elements are adjustably held in spaced relationships.

An important featurevof the tuber is that the plates |09, H3, ||9 and |25 are spaced with respect to the supports |33 and relatively to one another. Thus instead of the tube engaging a continuous flat surface throughout the entire bottom area of the tube over the tuber, it is only in contact over limited areas above the plates |09, H3, ||9 and |215. This greatly reduces the frictional drag which has heretofore occurred on the formerly continuous upper face of the tuber. In addition, it reduces the cost formerly involved in machining the top face of the tuber. It will be understood that the finally formed tube T is.

drawn through the apparatus by suitable draw rolls beyond the tuber. Since these are old and are located at some distance, they have not been shown.

The adjustments indicated in Fig. 2 are for the purpose of accommodating webs of various widths to make tubes of various sizes for different size bags and the like. For each different width of web and resulting composite tube encountered, there is an optimum angle (for best action by shoe and turning guide |03) at which the composite web emerging from the roll 1| should approach the folder guide |0|. Also,

for each angle there is a best adjustment for said shoe. For example, in Fig. 1 a desirable. larger angle of approach A is shown and in Fig. 3 a desirable smaller angle of approach B is shown. By adjusting the roll assembly 95 back and forth along the beams 2| the desired angle may be obtained, adjustment being made from said wheel 59 as above described. It is in this connection that an important feature of the invention should be observed. 'Ihis is that the gang of rolls 55 are adjusted independently and relatively to the gang of xed rolls 25. Heretofore, as in said Patent 1,634,067, adjustments were made simultaneously in both gangs of rolls without relative adjustment between them. That is to say, both gangs were moved as a unit along with the combining roll. The difference in the results obtained, is important in caseswhere predetermined phasing and registry must be maintained between webs throughout their progress from the inter-ply paster to the folder. The reason is that if the gang of rolls 25 were to be adjusted .back and forth, this would change the various angles of approach of the webs 3. 5. 1. 9 and to the rolls 25. This would non-proportionally change the distances which the various inter-ply paste patterns would need to move at constant speed in proceeding from where these webs receive their patterns to the points where they come together. In other words, the relative positions of these patterns on the webs would change at each adjustment of the` rolls 25. By maintaining the rolls 25 stationary, the angles of approach of the webs 3, 5, 1, 9 and to said rolls 25 are maintained constant and this factor of registry error is therefore eliminated.

noted that an echelon set-back arrangement is used between successive ones of the rolls 05 as indicated. This is for the purpose of providing a more favorable set of tension forces on the standards 23 than would be obtained by having the rolls vertically arranged or arranged with successively higher rolls overhung toward roll However, the arrangement of the rolls 55 must be such that each web may pass from its respective roll 65 without interference from the adjacent web in passing to the roll 1|. I'I'he arrangement of rolls 05 with respect to roll 1| for accomplishing this is clear from the drawings. That is, the echelon set-back is not enough to cause the reaches of web to come together before reaching roll 1|,

It Will be understood that the variation, such as illustrated. of angles A and B has no effect in changing the web phasing, that is, in registry of patterns thereon. This is because by use of the invention all of the webs remain in phase up to roll 1| and thereafter remain substantially collinear in their passage from roll 1| to the turning apparatus. Any change in the web length due to angle change between roll 1| and the turner affects all webs the same. Also, the adjustment of assembly 35 affects all webs the same. Hence any predetermined registry of patterns on the webs is not destroyed.

The term applicator for the unit is not intended to be limiting. The un-it may apply paste adhesive or even holes or other items and come within the meaning intended for the term applicator.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for forming composite multiply material from several plies, a unit for guiding a plurality of webs passing from an inter-'ply applicator to a folder comprising an upright gang of guide rolls respectively guiding the webs and receiving them at various angles, said gang of receiving rolls being fixed in position, a carriage movable with respect to the folder, a delivery roll on the carriage on which said webs are organized into a single composite web moved substantially collinearly to the folder, a gang of guide rolls uprightly mounted on said carriage and respectively related to said fixed rolls to define spaced, parallel paths of travel for the Webs, and means for ad justably moving the carriage in a. direction parallel to said paths of travel to various lpos-i tions longitudinally of said web and between said fixed rolls and said folder equally to vary the whereby the angle of approach of the composite web from fthedelivery roll to the folder may be changed without changing the longitudinal phase relationship between the webs.

2. In apparatus for forming composite multiply material from several plies. a unit for guiding a plurality of webs passing from an inter-ply applicator to a folder comprising an upright gang of guide rolls respectively guiding the webs and receiving them at various angles, said gang of receiving rolls being fixed in position, a carriage movable with respect to the folder, a delivery roll on the carriage on which said webs are organized into a single composite web moved substantially collinearly to the folder, a gang of guide rolls uprightly mounted on said carriage and respectively related to said fixed rolls to define spaced, parallel paths of travel for the webs, and means for adjustably moving the carriage in a direction parallel to sa-id paths of travel t'o various positions longitudinally of said web and between said iixed rolls and said folder equally to vary the lengths of the reaches of webs travelling from said fixed rolls to the guide rolls on the carriage, whereby the angle of approach of the' composite web from the delivery roll to the Ifolder may be changed without changing the longitudinal phase relationship between the webs, said rolls on the carriage, starting with the bottommost roll being arranged in upright receding echelon relationship with respect to said delivery roll.

3. Apparatus for forming multi-ply tubing compris-lng web guiding means between an interply applicator and a folder, said guiding means comprising a stationary bed between the applicator and the folder, a fixed support on the bed toward the applicator, a series of web-receiving rolls arranged fixedly on said support, a carriage movable longitudinally on said bed between said fixed support and the folder, an upwardly extending support on and movable with the carriage, a series of rolls in and movable with said last-named support respectively related to the fixed rolls to define spaced, parallel paths of travel'for webs between' the xed and movable rolls, and means for adjusting the carriage to various positions in a direct-ion parallel to said paths of travel equally to vary the lengths of the reaches of webs travelling from the fixed to the movable rolls.

4. Apparatus for forming multi-ply tubing comprising web guiding means between an interply applicator and a folder, said guiding means comprising a stationary bed between the applicator and the folder, a fixed support' on the bed toward the applicator, a series of web-receiving rolls arranged fixedly on said support, a carriage ,movable longitudinally on said bed between said fixed support and the folder, an upwardly extending support on and movable with the carriage, a series of rolls in and movable with said last-named support respectively related to the fixed rolls to define spaced, parallel paths of travel for webs between the fixed and movable rolls, means for adjusting the carriage to various positions in a direction parallel to said paths of travel equally to vary the lengths of the reaches of webs travelling from the fixed to the movable rolls, and a delivery roll on said carriage on which roll said webs are organized to form a composite web moving from the movable rolls to the folder.

5. In apparatus for form-ing multi-ply tubing,

la, horizontal bed located between an inter-ply bining roll on said carriage, a support on the carriage, an upright series of rolls carried in said support each respectively being located with respect to one of said fixed rolls to maintain the reaches of the webs between rolls substantially horizontal and parallel and to provide for equal variations in the lengths of said reaches of webs travelling from the web-receiving rolls to the carriage-supported rolls upon movement of the carriage, said carriage-supported rolls being arranged in .ascending receding echelon formation with respect to said delivery combining roll and adapted to deliver the web substantially collinearly to said delivery rolls, said webs forming a single composite web between the combining roll and said folder.

6. In apparatus for forming multi-ply tubing, a horizontal bed located between an inter-ply paste applicator and a folder, a fixed support attached to said bed at a portion adjacent to said applicator, a vertically arranged series of Webreceiving rolls fixed in said support and arranged to receive said webs at various angles, a carriage on said bed movable horizontally between said 'fixed support and the folder, a combining roll on said carriage, a support on the carriage, an upright series of rolls carried in and movable with said support each respectively being located with respect to one of said fixed rolls to maintain the reaches of the webs between fixed and movable ment of the carriage, said carriage-supported rolls being arranged in ascending receding echelon formation with respect to said delivery rolls and adapted to deliver the web substantially ,collinearly to said combining roll, said webs forming a single composite web between the delivery roll and said folder, means for adjusting the elevations of the rolls supported by the carriage, and means for adjusting the position of the carriage on the bed.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a first series of spaced, fixed web guides for receiving webs from a source thereof, and a second series of spaced web guides for receiving webs from said first series, each guide of said first series being correlated with a guide of said second series to define spaced, parallel paths of travel for the webs, said second series of guides being mounted on a movable carriage, said carriage being movable in a direction parallel to said paths of travel toward and away from said rst series of guides equally to vary the lengths of the reaches of webs ytravelling from the fixed guides to the guides on the carriage, and a guide on said carriage for receiving the webs from said second series of guides and combining them into a single, composite web.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a gang of spaced, fixed web guide rolls for receiving webs from a source thereof, the axes of said rolls lying substantially in a single vertical plane, a carriage movable in a horizontal direction toward and away from said rolls, a gang of spaced web guide rolls mounted on said carriage for receiving webs from said fixed guide rolls, each fixed roll being correlated with a roll on said carriage to define spaced, parallel paths of travel for the webs, horizontal movement of the carriage resulting in equal variations of the lengths of the reaches of 10 webs travelling from the xed rolls to the rolls on Number l Name Date the carriage, and a guide roll on said carriage for 882,366 Ashelm Mar. 17, 1908 receiving the webs from said rolls on the carriage 1,670,787 Sherman et al May 22, 1928 and combining them into a, single, composite web. 2,052,494 Smith- Aug. 25, 1936 RUSSELL J. WILLIAMS. 5 2,238,356 Williams Apr. 15, 1941 2,327,689 Wyrick Aug. 24, 1943 REFERENCES CTTED FOREIGN PATENTS The following references are of record in the Number Country Date me of this patentf 10 675,710 Germany May 15, 1939 UNIT'ED STATES PATENTS 115,194 Great Britain May 2, 1913 Number Name I Date 557,636 Baker Apr. 7, 1896 

